A police officer is under criminal investigation assault after arresting Sex Education star Reece Richards.
The actor claimed he was the subject of an ‘unlawful arrest’ earlier this year, the Independent Office For Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed.
He claimed he was ‘pepper sprayed and thrown to the ground’ on September 4 when walking back from appearing in West End musical Hairspray. He also claimed he was ‘kicked by officers.’
He has also said he was ‘mistaken for a suspect’ who he ‘did not fit the description of.’
Richards, who played Eugene on the hit Netflix show, claims the wrongful arrest came after he witnessed a crash.
He posted a statement to Instagram which said on Wednesday, 4th September between 12:38 am and 2:30 am, he was violently detained by police in Fulham on his way home.
The IOPC said the same officer was being investigated for potential gross misconduct, while a second police officer is being investigated for potential misconduct.
An IOPC spokesperson told the PA news agency: ‘Our investigation into the incident on Fulham Palace Road, West London on September 4 is ongoing.
‘The investigation is looking into the use of force by Met Police officers during the arrest of a man, who was later arrested.
‘In November, we advised an officer that they were under criminal investigation for the potential offence of common assault. The same officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct and a second officer is being investigated for potential misconduct.
‘This does not mean that disciplinary or criminal proceedings will necessarily follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings and whether any referral should be made to the Crown Prosecution Service.’
Richards – who has also appeared in Netflix show You as Kenneth – posted on Instagram following the incident.
The statement said: ‘I’ve heard stories about incidents like this, but I never imagined it would happen to me. This is my story.
‘I had just finished performing in Hairspray the Musical when a car crashed near me. Two men-one White and one Asian-jumped out; one started running in one direction, and the other ran toward me where I stood with my suitcase.
‘Realising the police were chasing them, I shouted, “He ran down there, officer,” and pointed out the direction they fled.
‘Despite hearing me, the officer shouted that I was under arrest and demanded I get on the ground. I was confused, unable to understand why I was suddenly being treated like a criminal.
‘Calmly, I explained that I was a performer returning from a show, but one officer yelled, “Get to the floor or I’ll pepper spray you.”‘
Richards then claimed officers ‘ran at [him]’ before they ‘pepper-sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground, and handcuffed me’.
Richards said his mum watched on screaming as the incident unfolded (Picture: Instagram/ reecejrichards)
He continued: ‘In a flash, I was face-down on the pavement with multiple officers holding me down, forcing my head into the ground. I was already injured from the show, but having four officers on top of me worsened my injuries to my back, ribs, and stomach.
‘I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go. Although I couldn’t see her, her distress was clear.’
The actor explained how he asked his mum to call Loose Women star Brenda Edwards, the director of Hairspray, who is also a family friend and well-known face.
‘Brenda arrived around 20 minutes later, and immediately, the officers’ attitude shifted. After reviewing body cam footage, they agreed to release me,’ Richards said.
‘That feeling of helplessness will never leave me. I’ve been stopped and searched before, but never have I been arrested or treated like this. Witnesses have since told me that the culprits were also handcuffed but were not pepper-sprayed.
‘At the time, I was carrying a 23 kg suitcase and a backpack and was on FaceTime with some of my cast from Hairspray. The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting, and exhausting. It has left me questioning everything I thought I knew about justice. Suddenly, my understanding of right and wrong feels completely upended.
‘What I seek is accountability for how I was treated and to raise awareness that incidents like this are still happening,’ he said.
Met Police officer under investigation over ‘assault and mistaken identity’ of Netflix star